BBNBA: Julius Randle Scores Career-High 57 Points in Knicks Loss

The New York Knicks, led by 2023 All-Star Julius Randle, have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last month of the season. Since February 11th, the Knicks had won 12 of their last 15 games and had moved all the way up to fifth in the Eastern Conference.

With Madison Square Garden surging on Monday night, Randle dropped a career-high 57 points in a win over the Karl-Anthony Towns-less Minnesota Timberwolves, right? Right? Wrong. On a night where the former SEC Rookie of the Year became just the fourth Knick to ever score that many points in a game, the Timberwolves downed the red-hot Knicks at MSG thanks to a 35-point outburst on 8-8 three-point shooting from all-time March Madness meme Taurean Prince.

Prince and the T-Wolves spoiled a special night at the Garden which saw one of the greatest Knicks’ performances of all time. Randle shot 19-29 from the field, knocking down eight of his 14 three-pointers attempted. Randle’s 26 third-quarter points were the most scored in a quarter in Knickerbocker history.

Julius Randle has 51 points through 3 quarters and Mike Breen is loving it 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JQg4F6lvF2

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 21, 2023

Elsewhere, Immanuel Quickley continued his strong play off the bench, scoring 19 points on 6-16 shooting. With the loss, the Knicks remain the fifth seed in the East and are three games ahead of the Play-In Tournament line. With nine games remaining on the season, the Knicks will need Randle’s strong play to continue if they want to reach the Playoffs for the first time in two years.

Fox’s 37 Not Enough in Loss to Jazz

March Madness legends show up in March.

Although De’Aaron Fox finished with 37 points and seven assists in Monday night’s game against the Jazz, 2022 National Champion Ochai Agbaji scored a career-high 27 points to lead a young Utah squad over the “Beam Team”. With five blocks in this one, former Auburn Tiger Walker Kessler became the first rookie with five-plus blocks in at least 10 games since Tim Duncan in 1997-98. Strong company.

Malik Monk couldn’t get it going from three, knocking down just three of his 12 attempts. Trey Lyles scored just three points in 26 minutes of action. Even with the loss, Sacramento still sits at third in the Western Conference.

Other BBNBA Notes:

• In a game with not many implications, former Wildcat big men Nick Richards and Isaiah Jackson both turned in double-doubles. Richards scored 14 points and grabbed 17 boards, and Jackson scored 12 points and grabbed 12 boards. PJ Washington contributed 10 points in 36 minutes of action to propel the Hornets over the Pacers 115-109.
• Tyrese Maxey played 46 minutes in Philadelphia’s 2OT loss to the Bulls on Monday night, finishing with 22 points and six assists.

BBNBA Stats:

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	MIN	+/-
Julius Randle (NYK)	134-140 L vs MIN	57	19-29 (8-14)	4	1	0	0	4	37	-6
De’Aaron Fox (SAC)	120-128 L @ UTA	37	14-21 (6-9)	4	7	1	0	1	36	-3
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	105-109 L vs CHI	22	9-19 (2-7)	5	6	0	1	2	46	9
Immanuel Quickley (NYK)	134-140 L vs MIN	19	6-16 (2-7)	1	3	1	0	2	28	-1
Malik Monk (SAC)	120-128 L @UTA	15	4-15 (3-12)	3	3	1	0	1	24	-24
Nick Richards (CHA)	115-109 W vs IND	14	5-8 (0-0)	17	1	0	2	0	26	18
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	109-115 L @ CHA	12	5-7 (0-0)	10	0	1	3	1	20	15
PJ Washington (CHA)	115-109 W vs IND	10	4-11 (1-6)	2	3	2	1	1	36	19
Trey Lyles (SAC)	120-128 L @ UTA	3	1-6 (1-4)	3	2	0	0	1	26	-9
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)	140-134 W @ NYK	DNP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TyTy Washington Jr (HOU)	108-121 L vs GSW	DNP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Tonight in the NBA

7:00: Wizards @ Magic
7:30: Pistons (Diallo: out) @ Hawks
7:30 (NBA TV): Cavaliers @ Nets
8:00: Spurs (Johnson) @ Pelicans
10:00 (NBA TV): Celtics @ Kings (Fox, Monk, Lyles)
10:30: Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander) @ Clippers